Large round baler having wrapping mechanism for placing net over edges

Abstract

A large round baler includes a net wrapping device mounted to the rear and bottom of the discharge gate of the baler. A spare roll of net material is stored above an active roll of net material which rests upon and is caused to be rotated by the upper roll of a pair of net material feed rolls. The rolls of material are wider than the baling chamber of the baler and net spreader rolls, including both raised spirals and spiral grooves, are provided along the net feed path so that the net is at its full width when it arrives at the inlet to the bale chamber which is located at a lower bale-forming belt support roll extending between opposite sidewalls of the gate at the lower front of the gate. A pair of guide plates are mounted to the insides of the bale chamber sidewalls and extend about an upper portion of the circumference of a net spreader rolls located at the opposite ends of the belt support roll. These guide plates are shaped and positioned such that they perform the functions of creating a space between the bale end and the side wall for receiving marginal portions of the net, defining together with the side walls, a channel which leads from the net spreader rolls to the space created for receiving the net, rounding the end edges of the bale for better reception of the marginal portions of the net and deflecting crop material away from the spirals of the net spreader rolls so as to prevent them from wrapping with crop which would interfere with the feeding of the marginal portions of the net to be placed over the edges or corners at the opposite ends of the bale. First and second alternate embodiments respectively have only the recess or the entire shape of inner surfaces of the guide plates formed into the sidewalls. In the latter case, openings are provided in the sidewalls adjacent the trailing part of the formed shape, as considered relative to the direction of rotation of a bale engaging the formed shape.